Belt buckle



June 29, 1965 R. L. sTEvENsoN BELT BUCKLE Filed April 16, 1963 FIG. 5

\\\\\\\T`\`"\`\`%l`llllllllll/lf INVENTOJL ROBRT L. sTi-:vENso ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,191,253 BELT llUCKLE Robert L. Stevenson, 2226 Old Welsh Road, Willow Grove, Pa. Filed Apr. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 273,358 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-77) This invention relates ,to buckles and more particularly to buckles suitable for adjustably securing together opposite ends of a flexible belt.

Prior art buckles used to secure both ends of a flexible belt without perforating the belt have one or more disadvantages such as the presence of moving parts in contact with or visible on the exterior surface of the buckle, the visible extension of the adjustable end of the belt beyond the buckle and the necessity of a forming operation and special tools to assemble the buckle. This last mentioned disadvantage has proved to be particularly troublesome in that it precludes the application of marresistant finishes such as hard anodized and vitreous enamel c'oatings to the exterior of the buckle. Such coatings must be applied before the components of the buckle `are assembled. If the assembling of the coated components requires a bending or forming operation to hold the components together in working position then the coating are likely to be chipped or cracked, destroying the finish.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily assembled buckle that is adjustable to secure the free end of a belt without mutilating or perforating the belt.

It is a further object to provide a buckle having no `moving parts in contact with or visible on the exterior surface thereof and that requires no forming of the .components to assemble the buckle.

Another object is to provide a buckle, the details of .construction of which will permit the application of a hard, brittle coating to the exterior surfaces thereof.

It is also an object to provide a buckle that will permit the fastening or release of the adjustable end of lthe belt by the operator using only one hand.

Various other objects and advantages will appear from thefollowing `description of one embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of one embodiment of the buckle of the present invention shown fully assembled and securing both ends of a exible belt;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the outer shell member taken from the rear;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the inner plate member taken from the rear;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the clamp taken from the rear;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the partially assembled buckle;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the buckle of FIG- URE l taken on the line 6 6.

In the embodiment of the belt buckle ofthe present invention illustrated in the drawings there is shown an outer shell member 1 formed of a single piece of metal and having an outer face portion 2 that isl rectangular in outline and curved slightly along its longitudinal axis. As seen in FIGURE 2the top andrbottom portions of ythe outerY shell member are bent along first lines parallel with the longitudinal axis of the buckle and rearwardly The rearmost portion of upper flange 3 is ICC bent downwardly along a line parallel with said first line at right angles thereto forming a narrow rim 5 extending the length of said flange. In like fashion the rearmost portion of lower flange 4 is bent upwardly forming a rim 6. A downward projection on one side edge of upper flange 3 and an opposed upward projection of lower ange 4 form stops 7 the function of which will become apparent hereinafter.

An inner plate member 10 that is adapted to be loosely inserted'within the `outer shell member 1 is formed of a unitary piece of metal and is curved along its longitudinal axis with a radius of curvature similar to that of the outer shell member. Top and bottom portions of the inner plate member 10 are bent rearwardly at right angles along lines parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof forming upper and lower plate flanges 11 and 12 which flanges are tapered, that is their edges are arranged on an incline relative to the face of the inner plate. A narrow strip of metal along the side of the inner plate adjacent the narrow ends of the flanges 11 and 12 is bent in a forward direction at right angles thereto, and this strip is serrated, forming forwardly projecting spaced teeth 15. Semi-circular sections cut out of the rear edges of the upper and lower plate flanges 11 and 12 form open-ended slots 13 and 14. These slots are vertically opposed and are preferably located near the widest ends of the flanges but in any event in a position which will be closed by the rims 5 and 6 when the inner plate member is inserted in the outer shell member 1. The inner plate member is rectangular in outline, dimensionally smaller than the outer shell member and is adapted to be inserted in the space defined by the rear surface of the outer shell member and flanges 3 and 4 and rims 5 and 6 through that side of the outer shell member not having the stops '7. The stops 7 located on the opposite side of the outer shell member prevent the insertion or removalpof the inner plate member from that side.

The third component of the belt buckle is a metal clamp 20 which is best seen in FIGURE 4. The clamp consists of a lever portion 21 having a tongue 22 and a belt-gripping portion 23 having a gripping edge 24. The tongue 22'is struck from the lever portion 21 and bent at approximately a right angle thereto. The belt-gripping portion 23 is bent from said lever portion 21 through an angle of approximately degrees in a direction opposite to that of the tongue 22. The belt-gripping portion 23 extends substantially the full width of the space between the flanges 11 and 12 of the inner plate member while the lever portion 21 is somewhat narrower so that it may freely pass between the rims 5 and 6 in outer shell member 1 when the clamp 20 is pivoted during operation of the assembled buckle. Located on opposite side edges of the clamp 2li are trunnions 25 extending outwardly from the clamp 20 to engage in the slots 13 and 14 in the flange 11 and 12 of the inner plate vmember 10 and capable of freely rotating therein. VIt should be noted that the trunnions must not interfere with the insertion of the inner plate member 10 into the outer shell member 1.

The components of the buckle are'assembled together as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. One end 30 of a flexible woven belt is inserted between flanges 3 and 4 of outer shell member 1 and the end 30 of the belt allowed to protrude a short distance beyond the side edge of the outer shell member opposite the edge adjacent the stops 7. The inner plate member 10 is lined up with the outer shell member preparatory to insertion therein in such a manner that the side edge ofthe inner plate member bearing the spaced teeth 15will be inserted lirst into the outer shell member and the spaced teeth are placed against the buckle. p

vfort while the car is continuing in operation.

positioned vbetween the outershell member and the inner plate there is created `a tight frictional it between rthese parts. Tapered flanges 11 and 12 of the inner'plate mem- -ber also contribute vtoward increasing the frictional Aengagement between the outer shell, rbelt end,l and inner plate The. spaced teeth 15 prevent the end` of theV belt from being pulled free `from its position' in' response member.

to any strain thereon. In addition, once the inner plate y .member has been partially inserted between Ythe flanges ofthe outer shell it is possible .by pulling'onrrthe belt to draw the innerV plate into position behind" the outer shell member. itis completely hidden Withinv the outer shellmember 1 Vand in the lillustrated embodiment whenthe .side edges of its flanges 11 and 12 come to rest against stops 7 of The inner plate member 10 is in position when' materials, steps and .arrangements of parts, which have beenherein describe'dand illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made Aby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.Y

,I claim:

Y ,1. In a belt. buckle for `adjustably securing the ends of Va iexible belt, the combination of:

(a) an outer. shell `member having rearwardly directed and spaced apart upper and lower retaining means,

, I, (b') an inner plate member insertable behind said outer `the outer shell member preventing any further movement v in the directionfof pull normally exerted by the belt,;i.e.,

in a directionopposite to or away from the end of the belt. Y

Prior to insertion of the inner n outer shell, the clamp 20 is placed in position on Vthe inner plate member with trunnions Y25 extending into thev open slots 13 and 14 and with lever 21 directed towardV the side edge of the inner plate carrying the lspaced teeth,`Vr V15. When the inner plate is rin positionwithin the outer shell member the clamp is pivotally Ytixedin position by plate member withinV the Y shell member and .having rearwardly extending Ailanges engagedby said retainingV means, said inner Y plate memberfrictionally held within said outer shell ,f membery whenone end of a beltis .disposed and held therebetween, said liangesbeing provided with/.opposed open-ended slots therein-closed by said retaining means when said inner platemember isl in- Y serted in said outer shell member, and

' (c) clamping means mounted in said slots to releasably clamp the otherendr ofsaid belt against said inner plate member. v v

.2. In a belt buckle for adjustably securing the ends of Y a flexible belt, the Vcombination of:

the -trunnions extending into tl1'e'slots,rthe open ends ofk Y whichare closed by rims 5 and 6. Y

The buckle is now securely fixed to vthe end '30 of the Y belt and the adjustable end 31'is`in'sertedybetween the `back surface of the `inner plate and the clampA 20( An application of pressure on-thelever moving it towardthe back surface of the inner plate causes the gripping member to swing into and bear against the belt, squeezing the belt tightly against the backksurfacelof the inner plate.

This inward pressure on the lever continuesuntil the lever rests against the belt and the rgripping memberA has moved through and slightly beyond a plane perpendicular to the belt. When so positioned the adjustable end131 of the belt is tightly gripped and the Vforce normally lapplied to this end of the belt tending topull this belt end away from the buckle and tending to pull the gripping the belt. In addition, Vany force exerted by the beltV end v31 tending to pull on the belt gripping portion 23'will cause the ends ofthe lever -portion 21 to engagethebelt `member open is resistedA by the lever whichbears againstsurface withl increasing force vtoincrease the resistance of the clamp against sliding of the belt. f.

The adjustable end'of the belt is released by applying pressure on the Vrearwardly directed tongue, causingl the lever to swing'rearwardly with respect to theface ofthe As can be seenfrom the Vforegoing description,y thev l buckle of thepresentinvention is assembled without any Y bending or forming of partsto complete the assembly,

thereby permitting the application of a hard brittle coating tothe exterior surfaces of ther components. In fact,.no

buckle. 4Injadditionv thebuckle in use'presents van eX- `terior appearance free from 'moving'partsj'as'seen inFIG- URE l. j Furthermore, theV adjustable end'of vtlie'belt is lhidden from View, further enhancingftlzlelV clean, neat ap-k pearance of the buckle. Finally, thebuckle of the'presf` tools at all are required to assemble or disassernble'Y this 1 (a) an outer shell'member havingrearwardly` directed rvand spaced apart'upper and lower retainingfrneans,

Y (b) an inner plate memberfinsertable behind said out,

er shell member .andhaving rearwardly extending spaced apart upper and flower anges slideably env gaging said retaining means, saidv iianges being ta'- pered tok provide a wedging action between said inner platememberand the inside surface of said outer e shell member .to clampone end of abelttherebetweenfas said inner platev member4 is inserted into Ysaid outer shell'v member Vand said anges` engage said'retaining means, said flangesbeing provided with vertically lopposed-open-ended slots therein adapted to'be closed byrsa'id retaining means on saidouter shellV member whensaid inner Y'plate member is inf serted in said outershell member, --and f (c) clamping meansr pivotally'seated in said slots toreleasably clamp the other end of fthe said belt against Ythe rear surface.V of said inner plate member, said Y clamping meansy being Afreely'vremovable from said slots when said innerplate member isA not Air'lserted in said outer shell member.

Y s. i aflexiblebelt, the rcombination of:

(a) anouter'shell memberY having rearwardly directed and spacedV apart upperand lower retaining means,

.(b) an inner plate member insertable'endwise `behind Vsaid outer shell-member and between said retaining means, and having rearwardly extending spaced apart upper and lower flanges slideablyengaging said retaining means,l said innerplatemember adaptedV so as'tobe frictionally'held within said outershell inember Vwhen one rend of `a belt isl disposed and held therebetween, the belt engaging portion of said inner platemember being vprovided withV means; for gripping said belt, each of said iiangesfbeing lprovided withan openfendedslotrwhich slots are'in substanf, Vtially `vertical alignment and which vare closed 'by said retaining lmeans when said innerv plate member Y is inserted withinsaid Aouterv shell memben'and f (c) clamping means, pivotally mounted in said slots to releasably clamp'the other end ofy said'belt against the rear surface ofsaid inner plate member, said Vclamping meansbeng freelyremovable fromsaid slots when .saidinnerplate `member is not inserted 'K Yin said outer shell member. i Y 4.V means on said outer shell to limit movement of said inner plate member in the direction of insertion into lsaid'outer shell member and wherein said flanges. are tapered so as In a belt buckle for adjustablysecuring the,vr ends; of

A belt bucklefaccording'jto 'claim 3 havingz a stop gagement of said inner plate member within said outer of said slots adapted to be closed by the rims of said plate member. outer shell member when said inner plate member is 5. In a belt buckle for adjustably securing the ends of inserted therein, and

a exible belt, the combination of: (c) clamping means mounted in said slots to releas- (a) an outer shell member having spaced upper and 5 ably clamp the other end of said belt against the rear lower anges extending rearwardly with respect to the face thereof and at substantially right angles thereto, said upper shell ilange having a rirn extending downwardly along its rear marginal edge, said surface of said inner plate member, said clamping means being freely removable from said slots when said inner plate member is not inserted in said outer shell member.

lower shell ilange having a rim extending upwardly l0 6. A belt buckle according to claim 5 having a stop along its rear marginal edge, means on said outer shell to limit movement of said inner (b) an inner plate member adapted to be inserted in plate member in the direction of insertion into said outer said outer shell member and having rearwardly exshell member.

tending plate flanges along the top and bottom edges thereof capable of slideably engaging said upper and 15 References Ce by lie Examiner lower shell flanges, said inner plate member being UNITED STATES PATENTS adapted so as to be frictionally held within said outer shell member when one end of a belt is disposed and 2 @molli Z X held therebetween, the belt engaging portion of said avam 77 2,807,849 10/57 Legat 24-74 inner plate member being provided w1th means for 20 gripping said belt, said plate ilanges being provided DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

with opposed open-ended slots therein, the open ends 

1. IN A BELT BUCKLE FOR ADJUSTABLY SECURING THE ENDS OF A FLEXIBLE BELT, THE COMBINATION OF: (A) AN OUTER SHELL MEMBER HAVING REARWARDLY DIRECTED AND SPACED APART UPPER AND LOWER RETAINING MEANS, (B) AN INNER PLATE MEMBER INSERTABLE BEHIND SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER AND HAVING REARWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES ENGAGED BY SAID RETAINING MEANS, SAID INNER PLATE MEMBER FRICTIONALLY HELD WITHIN SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER WHEN ONE END OF A BELT IS DISPOSED AND HELD THEREBETWEEN, SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH OPPOSED OPEN-ENDED SLOTS THEREIN CLOSED BY SAID RETAINING MEANS WHEN SAID INNER PLATE MEMBER IS INSERTED IN SAID OUTER SHELL MEMBER, AND (C) CLAMPING MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID SLOTS TO RELEASABLY CLAMP THE OTHER END OF SAID BELT AGAINST SAID INNER PLATE MEMBER. 